September 30, 2017

Advocacy group Generations United presents
award on behalf of approximately 2.6 million grandparents raising their
grandchildren

Generations United honored U.S. Senator Susan Collins
with its Grandfamilies Champion Award for her commitment to supporting
grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. Generations United is an
advocacy organization focused on supporting intergenerational families.

“For nearly three decades, Generations United has
worked to improve the lives of children, youth and older adults through
intergenerational collaboration,” said Senator Collins.
“I greatly appreciate being recognized for my work to support grandparents
raising grandchildren. Working together, we can ensure grandparents receive
the resources they need to help children thrive.”

Senator Collins also chaired a
hearing in March where the committee heard from Bette Hoxie, an
Old Town native and the Executive Director of Adoptive & Foster Families
of Maine and the Kinship Program, which supports grandparents, aunts, and
uncles, who keep families together amidst the opioid epidemic. Bette also
shared her personal experiences raising grandchildren. Adoptive & Foster
Families of Maine works with 3,100 kinship families around Maine – more than
80 percent of them are grandparents raising their grandchildren.